DMC given 1 year to shift dumpsite

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) a time of one year to find an alternative site for dumping garbage of which six months being for land acquisition and the remaining six months for shifting dumpsite from its current location near Sunrise Colony, Burma Camp to the new dumpsite by January 31, 2024.
It may be mentioned that the NGT in November 2022 levied Environmental Compensation of Rs 200 crores on Nagaland for allegedly not managing the solid and liquid waste management causing harm to the environment.
Hearing a petition, Kolkata-based Eastern Zone Bench of NGT further directed DMC to prepare an Action Plan for Waste Management within a period of three months, i.e., by April 30,2023.
As waste segregation from source was a continuous process and hence no timeline could be given, the tribunal stated but however ruled that the segregation must commence within one month, if not already undertaken by the council.
The tribunal ordered that bio-remediation process must be completed by May 31, 2024 and an affidavit of compliance in this regard should be filed by July 1, 2024. It also ruled that bio-mining process should be completed by May 31, 2024.
NGT directed DMC to create green belt and buffer zone and completed these within six months, i.e., by September 30 this year, while installation of weigh bridge at the dumpsite should be completed within a period of three months, i.e., by May 31 this year.
Similarly, construction of a concrete slab for waste processing (segregation process) should also be completed by May 31 this year, along with construction of linear drainage inside the periphery of the dumpsite to protect water and soil environment.
NGT ordered DMC to construct effluent treatment plant (ETP) by May 31, 2024. But, since construction of ETP would require budget sanction, the tribunal directed chief secretaryto expedite the matter and ensure sanction of funds in this regard.
The chief secretary was also ordered to ensure sanction of funds for construction of faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) with higher capacity by May 31, 2024.
The tribunal directed that the present dumpsite be fenced completely with additional fence on the sides facing Dhansiri river to ensure there was no contamination of solid and liquid wastes from the dump site in any manner of the river water.
It also ordered installation of CCTV cameras within May 31 this year for monitoring the dumpsite for any fire or untoward incident.
To ensure effective compliance of all remedial measures suggested by Committee, NGT further directed the chief secretary to constitute a committee that would include principal secretary of Urban Development Department and Municipal Affairs Department, DMC municipal commissioner, Nagaland State Pollution Control Board chairman/member secretary and any other member whom he might consider necessary in his wisdom to include in the committee for proper and complete execution of the above directions.
The chief secretary would be chairman of the committee that would conduct quarterly review of the remedial measures suggested by the committee and ensure compliance of the directions highlighted above.
The tribunal ruled that a comprehensive affidavit of compliance in this regard should be filed by the committee on or before July 1, 2024.